Ryun leads push for Pence 2012 run

A group of conservatives led by former Rep. Jim Ryun (R-Kan.) plans to start an independent expenditure campaign aimed at getting Rep. Mike Pence (R-Ind.) to run for president.

America’s President Committee will begin a signature-gathering effort this week to encourage Pence to get into the presidential race. Its website, www.theconservativechampion.org, went live Monday. An open letter to Pence on the site’s home page assures the congressman: “You are uniquely qualified to take America’s helm at this moment of great peril.”

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Pence has gotten buzz on the right in part because he’s seen as a candidate who could unify the three traditional constituencies within the GOP — social conservatives, economic conservatives and foreign policy conservatives.

Pence has said he will decide later this month whether he’s running. If he opts not to enter the race, it may be so that he can run for governor of Indiana next year. But the formation of the group illustrates the appeal he has among well-connected national conservative activists. Many such Republicans, particularly social conservatives, are less than thrilled at the likely prospects in the field and see the Hoosier as someone who could be a consensus candidate.

In addition to Ryun, the group is run by Ralph Benko, a former Reagan official who has been involved in the tea party movement. The committee is also being advised by conservative PR group CRC.

“Mike Pence extraordinarily exemplifies the optimistic, pro-growth, pro-job-creation Reagan-Kemp wing of the GOP,” said Benko. “Grass-roots conservatives, Republicans, the tea party and populists are looking for a man or woman of principle who can champion and unite the newly energized and engaged citizenry.”

It has been more than 100 years since a House member was elected president, though, and Pence would face considerable difficulties on the fundraising front should he decide to run.